Family guides for Texas
Hand-checked family events and always-open places in Texas, city by city, with dates, costs and official links. All times are local Central Time (Mountain Time in El Paso).
Coming up: holiday & seasonal highlights
- Sensory-friendly SpooktacularMcKinney · Fri, Oct 30 · Free
- Caminata con Dulces: Trick-or-Treat on the TrailAustin · Sat, Oct 31
- Treat Street Stockyards SpooktacularFort Worth · Sat, Oct 31
- Pumpkin Carver Fall FestivalAustin · Sat, Oct 31 · Free and open to all
- Trick or Treat on Downtown StreetsDallas · Sat, Oct 31 · Free
- Holiday at the ArboretumDallas · Nov 11 – Dec 26 · Ticketed
Seasonal guides
- Thanksgiving weekend activities for families around Dallas–Fort Worth (2026)11 listings
- Holiday lights near Dallas–Fort Worth for families (2026)10 listings
- Where to see Santa near Dallas–Fort Worth (2026)9 listings
- Thanksgiving weekend activities for families around Houston (2026)7 listings
- Holiday lights near Houston for families (2026)7 listings
- Where to see Santa near Houston (2026)3 listings
- Thanksgiving weekend activities for families around Austin (2026)4 listings
- Holiday lights near Austin for families (2026)5 listings
- Thanksgiving weekend activities for families around San Antonio (2026)4 listings
- Holiday lights near San Antonio for families (2026)3 listings
Dallas–Fort Worth area
- Things to do with kids in Dallas, TX16 listings
- Things to do with kids in Fort Worth, TX15 listings
- Things to do with kids in McKinney, TX15 listings
- Things to do with kids in Arlington, TX12 listings
- Things to do with kids in Plano, TX12 listings
- Things to do with kids in Frisco, TX11 listings
- Things to do with kids in Grapevine, TX11 listings
- Things to do with kids in Irving, TX11 listings
Houston area
- Things to do with kids in Houston, TX15 listings
- Things to do with kids in Pearland, TX12 listings
- Things to do with kids in Sugar Land, TX11 listings
- Things to do with kids in The Woodlands, TX11 listings
- Things to do with kids in Katy, TX10 listings
Austin area
- Things to do with kids in Austin, TX15 listings
- Things to do with kids in Round Rock, TX11 listings
- Things to do with kids in Georgetown, TX10 listings
San Antonio area
- Things to do with kids in San Antonio, TX13 listings
- Things to do with kids in New Braunfels, TX11 listings
El Paso area
- Things to do with kids in El Paso, TX12 listings
Frequently asked questions
Which Texas cities have Little Outings family guides?
Our 19 city guides in Texas cover Dallas, Austin, Houston, San Antonio, El Paso, Fort Worth, McKinney, Arlington, Pearland, Plano, Frisco, Grapevine, Irving, New Braunfels, Round Rock, Sugar Land, The Woodlands, Georgetown and Katy. All times are local Central Time (Mountain Time in El Paso).
Where can I take my kids to see Christmas lights in Texas?
We list 27 holiday light events across 19 cities in Texas, 8 free, including Dallas Zoo Lights (Dallas), Zoo Lights at San Antonio Zoo (San Antonio) and Zoo Lights at the Houston Zoo (Houston). See our Dallas–Fort Worth, Houston, Austin and San Antonio holiday lights guides.
Where can kids see Santa in Texas?
We list 14 events with Santa across 10 cities in Texas, including Christmas in the Garden at Fort Worth Botanic Garden (Fort Worth), Lighting of the Doves (The Woodlands) and Santa's North Pole Express (Grapevine Vintage Railroad, Grapevine). See our Dallas–Fort Worth and Houston Santa guides.
What Thanksgiving events can families go to in Texas?
We list 16 Thanksgiving events across 15 cities in Texas, including YMCA Run Thru the Woods (The Woodlands), Sugar Land Turkey Trot & Kids' Mile (Sugar Land) and Katy YMCA Turkey Dash & Kids Race (Katy). See our Dallas–Fort Worth, Houston, Austin and San Antonio Thanksgiving guides.
What are the big kids' attractions in Texas?
Zoos, aquariums and children's museums on our Texas guides include Animal World & Snake Farm Zoo (New Braunfels), Austin Zoo (Austin), Dallas Zoo (Dallas), El Paso Zoo and Botanical Gardens (El Paso) and Fort Worth Zoo (Fort Worth). See all 20 in the city guides.
What is free for families in Texas?
27 places on our Texas guides have free admission according to the official site, including Klyde Warren Park (Dallas), Dallas Museum of Art (Dallas), Austin Nature & Science Center (Austin), Texas State Capitol (Austin) and Houston Arboretum & Nature Center (Houston). See all 27 in the city guides.
Our weekend search covers Phoenix Metro & Arizona for now, and more areas are coming soon. In the meantime, these family guides are hand-checked the same way.
How we verify listings · All guides · Arizona weekend search
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